At 2 p.m. on 2ist October, 1966, two fishing vessels were being carried on to Barnard wharf. The motor fishing vessel Irene had fouled her propeller and the motor fishing vessel Goodwill had broken down while towing her. Only the Irene had an anchor and this would not hold both vessels. The other vessels in the vicinity could not approach the Irene and Goodwill because of the shallow water.

The life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched at 2.15 in a fresh westerly wind and a choppy sea. It was three hours before high water. While the life-boat stood by, the Irene cleared her propeller and took the Goodwill in tow. The lifeboat returned to her station at 3.10..